Ankeny Fanatic

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Boys' Basketball

Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

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In late February, Bob Fontana got a text message from one of his longtime coaching friends, Andy Howard, that stopped him in his tracks. "Andy was telling me, 'Congratulations. I'm proud of you,'" Fontana recalled. "I go, 'What are you talking about?', and he says, 'You're going into the Hall of Fame.' And I told him, 'Funny joke. Nobody has contacted … [Read more...] about Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

‘They fought all the way until the end’: Jags fall at Urbandale, finish year at 9-14

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The first season of the Matt Delger coaching era officially came to an end on Friday for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. Having the season end with a loss will always leave a bitter taste, but the Jaguars feel that there’s been a foundation set in the 2025-26 campaign that Centennial teams of the future will be … [Read more...] about ‘They fought all the way until the end’: Jags fall at Urbandale, finish year at 9-14

‘We really wanted to start off hot’: Mitchell, Gorsh lead Jaguars past Fort Dodge boys

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With only four wins on the year, the Fort Dodge boys' basketball team entered Monday's game at Ankeny Centennial looking to pull off a postseason surprise. The Jaguars, meanwhile, wanted to quickly squash any hopes for an upset. Centennial used a 15-0 run in the first half to pull away and went on to beat the Dodgers, 56-27, in a Class 4A substate … [Read more...] about ‘We really wanted to start off hot’: Mitchell, Gorsh lead Jaguars past Fort Dodge boys

‘They deserve to be honored’: Jaguars romp to win over Lincoln on Senior Night

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The four seniors on the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team are not among the squad's leading scorers. But their value to the Jaguars' program runs much deeper than the box score. The quartet of Kolby Bechen, Carter Gustafson, Will Perpich and Brody Prill was honored on Thursday during the Senior Night festivities at Centennial, where the Jaguars … [Read more...] about ‘They deserve to be honored’: Jaguars romp to win over Lincoln on Senior Night

‘We just scrapped, and that’s who we are’: Jaguars battle No. 6 Ames down to wire

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Next week, the Ankeny Centennial and Ames boys' basketball teams will be playing to keep their seasons alive in the same Class 4A substate bracket. But the Jaguars were simply focused on the task at hand of hosting the sixth-ranked Little Cyclones while trying to close out the home stretch of the season with some positive … [Read more...] about ‘We just scrapped, and that’s who we are’: Jaguars battle No. 6 Ames down to wire

‘The game was very physical’: Jaguars sink 22 free throws in victory at Waterloo West

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team has earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Fresh off a 17-point victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Friday, the Jaguars traveled to Waterloo West on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference game and defeated the Wahawks, 57-51. "This was a nice, hard-fought win for us," said Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘The game was very physical’: Jaguars sink 22 free throws in victory at Waterloo West

Centennial boys use balanced attack to finish sweep of season series vs. Rams

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) To the delight of the Ankeny Centennial student section, Carter Gustafson checked into Friday's boys' basketball game for the Jaguars with about 30 seconds left to play. The senior guard's fast-break layup in the final seconds was the perfect way to close out Centennial's 61-44 victory to sweep the season series against … [Read more...] about Centennial boys use balanced attack to finish sweep of season series vs. Rams

Gorsh scores career-high 13 points, but Centennial boys can’t overcome slow start

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A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars fell into a 17-4 hole against visiting Johnston by the end of the first quarter in Tuesday's game. Centennial closed the gap to 24-19 at halftime before the Dragons pulled away for a 56-45 victory that allowed them to sweep the season series. "Our defense was … [Read more...] about Gorsh scores career-high 13 points, but Centennial boys can’t overcome slow start

‘They’re a tough team to come back on’: Jaguars drop 63-46 decision at Waukee

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(Story by Jordan Wood) Coming into the Waukee Fieldhouse as an underdog on Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team hung tough for awhile before third-ranked Waukee eventually pulled away for a 63-46 victory. The Jaguars trailed by just 32-27 at halftime, but Waukee extended its margin in the second half and went on to post its 11th … [Read more...] about ‘They’re a tough team to come back on’: Jaguars drop 63-46 decision at Waukee

‘My guys just didn’t quit’: Centennial boys rally past Tigers to sweep season series

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team rode an intense roller coaster of momentum ranging from a double-digit lead to a double-digit deficit. But it was the squad’s overall response late in the third quarter and early in the final period that powered the Jaguars to a 57-50 road victory Friday that secured their regular … [Read more...] about ‘My guys just didn’t quit’: Centennial boys rally past Tigers to sweep season series

‘Those two bigs just really hurt us’: Crane, Kolee lead Maroons past Centennial boys

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It's hard to defend a slam dunk. The Dowling Catholic duo of Charlie Crane and Alfred Kolee combined for 32 points and five dunks as the third-ranked Maroons defeated visiting Ankeny Centennial, 64-46, in a CIML Conference boys' basketball game on Tuesday. "Those two guys are 6-10 and 6-8, and they're hard to guard," said Centennial forward Luke … [Read more...] about ‘Those two bigs just really hurt us’: Crane, Kolee lead Maroons past Centennial boys

‘It was a tough night’: Centennial boys get off to slow start in loss to No. 8 J-Hawks

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team had a chance to claw its way back into Tuesday's game and cut its deficit down to single digits out of halftime. But despite a huge scoring night from junior forward Luke Mitchell, the Jaguars just weren’t able to keep pace with eighth-ranked Urbandale and dropped a 60-39 decision … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough night’: Centennial boys get off to slow start in loss to No. 8 J-Hawks

Jaguars build big lead, then hold on for non-conference victory at DC-Grimes

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A huge second quarter propelled the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a non-conference road victory on Monday. The Jaguars outscored Dallas Center-Grimes in the second period, 27-8, to build a 38-19 advantage at halftime. They then held on for a 55-51 win despite scoring just 17 points in the last two quarters. "It was a good one for us," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars build big lead, then hold on for non-conference victory at DC-Grimes

‘Their balance makes it tough’: Wolves top Centennial boys, stay unbeaten in CIML

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There was no letdown for the second-ranked Waukee Northwest boys' basketball team. After handing No. 3 Dowling Catholic its first loss of the season on Tuesday, the Wolves traveled to Ankeny Centennial on Friday and posted a 66-39 victory to complete a sweep of the season series. The Jaguars, though, put up more of a fight than they did on Dec. 2, when … [Read more...] about ‘Their balance makes it tough’: Wolves top Centennial boys, stay unbeaten in CIML

Mitchell posts double-double, Prill scores career-high 11 in Centennial boys’ victory

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Luke Mitchell had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 63-37 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in a non-conference game on Saturday. The Jaguars rebounded from Friday's loss at Johnston by a similar score to raise their overall record to 3-6. It was the eighth straight loss for Fort Dodge, … [Read more...] about Mitchell posts double-double, Prill scores career-high 11 in Centennial boys’ victory

‘Just unfortunate how that game went’: Johnston boys cruise past Jaguars, 66-35

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Physicality and scrappiness have been two of the key ingredients for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team this season. But the Jaguars just couldn’t find their groove on either end of the court during their road trip to Johnston on Friday, and the Dragons made them pay for it as Centennial suffered a 66-35 … [Read more...] about ‘Just unfortunate how that game went’: Johnston boys cruise past Jaguars, 66-35

Runchey extends free-throw streak to 32, scores career-high 20 in win at S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was clinging to a 17-16 lead late in the first half of Tuesday's game at Southeast Polk when the Rams' bench was called for a technical foul. There was no question which player Centennial coach Matt Delger would ask to shoot the free throws. Junior guard Hunter Runchey made both of the ensuing attempts and … [Read more...] about Runchey extends free-throw streak to 32, scores career-high 20 in win at S.E. Polk